In 2005 he released his first official mixtape, Prince of the City: Welcome to Pistolvania, and later in 2006 he released his first full length street album entitled Show and Prove. Since then he has released a further six mixtapes and a collaboration mixtape titled How Fly with friend Curren$y. He released his debut album, Deal or No Deal, in November of 2009, it reached #1 on the iTunes hip hop chart, and then reached the top ten on iTunes' overall album chart the week it was released. Previously signed to Warner Bros. Records, he left the label in July 2009 after numerous delays in releasing his planned debut album for the label, First Flight. Khalifa stated to the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette that, "I learned a lot during my time there and matured as an artist during the process. I'm happy to be moving on with all of my material and having the chance to be in control of my next moves".He is also the founder of the rap crew Taylor Gang, which includes friends Kev Tha Hustler, Ekko, Smallz Money and Gene Stovall. They derived the name from the fact they always used to wear Chuck Taylor shoes.
Khalifa was born on September 8, 1987 in Minot, North Dakota to a mother and a father serving in the military. The family moved to Pittsburgh when Khalifa was the age of two. His parents' military service caused the family to move on a regular basis.
Over the next thirteen years, he would move between Pittsburgh and South Carolina, Georgia, Oklahoma, Germany, Japan, and England as his parents were reassigned to different posts. In October of 1990 Wiz was separated from his mother,who left him in the hands of her sister while she served in Operation Desert Storm.
During his travels, Wiz was forced to mature quicker than his peers. He was constantly faced with new surroundings, new schools, and new sets of friends, and he found it difficult to become attached to anyone outside his family roots. This nomadic life gave Wiz an opportunity, though, to broaden his mind and offered him many experiences from which to draw inspiration. He began to perceive the world differently than most kids, and he would write his thoughts down every day.These thoughts would become the foundation for his future recordings.
By the age of 14, with a few songs under his belt, Wiz was already drawing comparisons with his commanding voice and witty wordplay. While he has been influenced by artists such as Jay-Z, Camron, and the Notorious B.I.G., Wiz was determined to create his own identity that would, one day, be loved and revered by fans.
Ready to take the next step, Wiz began his search for a recording studio to record new songs. He found one, ID LABS, where owner Eric Dan immediately recognized Wiz's talents. Along with Chad Glick of ID Management, they began to network Wiz to another Pittsburgh native, Benjy Grinberg of Rostrum Records. Benjy realized the raw talent that Wiz possessed, and immediately brought him into the Rostrum family in 2002.
Soon after, Wiz Khalifa began his ascent into the music scene in the Pittsburgh area. He has been hailed by the award winning Pittsburgh Post-Gazette pop music critic, Ed Masley, as having “the skills, the looks, the confidence, the drive, and the charisma for the job.” The New Pittsburgh Courier says, “The combination of a young, charismatic M.C. with a slew of stop-and-rewind rhymes together with a local independent label with major industry connections has set the stage for a hip-hop artist representing Pittsburgh to reach superstar status for the first time ever.
In 2010, with the success of Kush and Orange Juice still present, Wiz Khalifa signed with Atlantic Records. Wiz's style along with his production team, Johnny Juliano, Sledgren, and E. Dan make this a winning combination for success.
He is also well known for his debut single for Atlantic, "Black and Yellow", which peaked at number one on the Billboard Hot 100. His debut album for the label, Rolling Papers, was released on March 29, 2011. He followed that album with O.N.I.F.C. (abbreviated for mainstream markets from "Only Nigga In First Class") on December 4, 2012 which was backed by the singles "Work Hard, Play Hard" and "Remember You". O.N.I.F.C. debuted at number two with 131,000 in first week sales.
Pittsburgh City Council declared 12-12-12 (December 12, 2012) to be Wiz Khalifa Day in the city. Khalifa graduated from Pittsburgh's Taylor Allderdice High School and in January 2012, purchased a home in nearby Canonsburg, Pennsylvania.
In April 2013, Khalifa revealed that after having his son he decided to work on a new album that he was planning to release in 2013. On April 17, 2013, Wiz Khalifa and Curren$y announced that they will drop their collaboration EP Live in Concert on April 20, 2013. The EP featured seven new songs. On June 24, 2013, he announced that his fifth studio album would be titled Blacc Hollywood and would be released in 2013. On September 3, 2013, Khalifa revealed he had recorded songs with Miley Cyrus, Adele and Juicy J for Blacc Hollywood. In October 2013, Mannie Fresh confirmed that he provided production for the album. On February 11, 2014, Khalifa released Blacc Hollywood's first single titled "We Dem Boyz". The album was then supported by the singles "KK", "You and Your Friends", "Stayin Out All Night", "Promises" and "So High".
Khalifa released an EP with TY Dolla $ign on March 31, 2015, entitled "Talk About It In the Morning". That same month, Wiz released the lead single for the film "Furious 7" called "See You Again" as a tribute to Paul Walker. The single has since gone on to global success. "See You Again" spent 12 non-consecutive weeks at number one on the Billboard Hot 100, tying for the longest-running rap number-one hit in the US.
On January 23, 2015, Khalifa was featured on a remix release of the Fall Out Boy song "Uma Thurman". On May 18, they performed the song together on the 2015 Billboard Music Awards show. In the summer of 2015, he began touring the United States with Fall Out Boy and Hoodie Allen in a tour titled "The Boys of Zummer Tour". The tour featured performances of "Uma Thurman" by Fall Out Boy and Khalifa. Later that year, on December 15, 2015, Wiz released the mixtape "Cabin Fever 3". During the Golden Globes on January 10, 2016, Wiz announced that his next album, titled Khalifa, would be released on the 22nd of that month. However, the album was released on February 5, 2016. On May 24, 2016, he released "Pull Up", a standalone single in promotion of his sixth album, Rolling Papers 2, which was released on July 13, 2018.
On April 20, 2020, Khalifa released, The Saga of Wiz Khalifa. The album included collaborations with Tyga, Logic, Mustard and Ty Dolla $ign. In May 2020, Khalifa featured on the song "Drums Drums Drums" with Travis Barker.
In 2021, Khalifa competed in season five of The Masked Singer as "Chameleon". He finished in third place.
How to Be Real
Wiz Khalifa Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Shout out to Big you
Real
Real nigga
Yal better chill
Two-9 wassup
8-0-8 Mafia
How to be real [x12]
[Verse 1: Wiz Khalifa]
How to be real
Some niggas don't but some niggas will
I'm shooting to kill
Jumpin to ride or shooting to kill
I'm taking the shot
I'm drinking that gin or shooting to kill
My bitches so real
My bitches so real
My bitches so real
You killin' my vibe
I'm up in that bitch
I'm getting a thrill
I'm popping that thing
She poppin' that pussy like it is a pill
I come from the burg
Some niggas are fake most niggas are real
Some niggas get killed
I don't drink n' drive she takin' the wheel
Hundred thousand dollars round my neck, yes
Nigga I'm down to ride for my respect, yes
Man, yal just don't understand
Since I was a lil' nigga yea I've been poppin' them rubber bands
God damn
[Hook: Wiz Khalifa]
If I didn't have a deal
I'd still have a mil
My niggas thuggin' out in public
Fuck it
I guess nobody told you
How to be real [x12]
[Verse 2: Curtis Williams]
Yeah uhh, how to be real
I'm repping Two-9 fuck with the game (Two-9)
How to be real
I'm fucking her once I don't know her name
Smoking that loud
I'm breaking it down and rolling it up (cash)
That money gon' come
I'm stacking it up
Can't fuck this shit up (cash)
These niggas is lame
These niggas just talk
These niggas ain't real (fake)
My young nigga with it
And I ain't gonna touch it he gripping it still
She come to the crib
She have a good time but don't get to stay
That pack on the way
Man that pack on the way, that pack on the way
Young rich niggas we don't fuck with you nigga
I be flexing out in public who the fuck is you nigga
Get a mil my nigga split it with the crew nigga
Take his main bitch from him show him what to do with it, huh
[Hook:]
The song "How to Be Real" by Wiz Khalifa is a commentary on the nature of authenticity within the hip hop industry. The lyrics suggest that there are those who are genuine and true to themselves, and those who are merely putting on an act. Wiz Khalifa asserts his own realness, boasting that he would still have wealth and success even without a record deal. He talks about his experiences with fame and fortune, mentioning the thrill of popping bottles and the danger of drinking and driving.
Curtis Williams' verse reinforces the idea that many in the rap game are "fake," and that only a select few truly possess the authenticity necessary to succeed. He raps about the importance of staying focused and stacking money, and suggests that those who are unable to do so are doomed to fail. The song concludes with a repetition of the phrase "how to be real," emphasizing the importance of staying true to oneself and avoiding the superficiality and deception that can pervade the music industry.
Overall, "How to Be Real" is a song that speaks to the struggles and challenges faced by those trying to make it in the highly competitive world of hip hop. It encourages listeners to stay grounded, stay focused, and above all, stay true to who they are.
Line by Line Meaning
Shout out to Big you
Giving a shout-out to someone named Big
Real
Emphasizing that what is to follow is about being real
Real nigga
Being a real person, a true representation of oneself
Yal better chill
Telling everyone to relax
Two-9 wassup
Acknowledging Two-9 group members
8-0-8 Mafia
Acknowledging 8-0-8 Mafia group members
How to be real [x12]
Repeating the hook many times, emphasizing the theme of the song
How to be real
Asking the question of how to be real
Some niggas don't but some niggas will
Not everyone knows how to be real, but some do
I'm shooting to kill
Being serious and determined
Jumpin to ride or shooting to kill
Being ready for action
I'm taking the shot
Making a move
I'm drinking that gin or shooting to kill
Being calm or ready for action
My bitches so real
The people around me are authentic and true to themselves
You killin' my vibe
Interruptions are not appreciated
I'm up in that bitch
In control of the situation
I'm getting a thrill
Enjoying oneself
I'm popping that thing
Being confident in oneself and one's abilities
She poppin' that pussy like it is a pill
The woman is confident in her sexuality
I come from the burg
Referring to his hometown of Pittsburgh
Some niggas are fake most niggas are real
Many people are genuine but some are not
Some niggas get killed
Some people face serious consequences for their actions
I don't drink n' drive she takin' the wheel
Being responsible for oneself and others
Hundred thousand dollars round my neck, yes
Flashy display of wealth
Nigga I'm down to ride for my respect, yes
Willing to stand up for oneself
Man, yal just don't understand
Feeling misunderstood
Since I was a lil' nigga yea I've been poppin' them rubber bands
Being financially successful for a long time
God damn
Expressing disbelief or awe
If I didn't have a deal
Not relying on a record label for success
I'd still have a mil
Maintaining financial stability even without a record deal
My niggas thuggin' out in public
Being true to oneself in public
Fuck it
Being unapologetically oneself
I guess nobody told you
Implying that others do not know how to be real
Yeah uhh, how to be real
Returning to the theme of the song
I'm repping Two-9 fuck with the game (Two-9)
Being part of the Two-9 group and doing things their own way
I'm fucking her once I don't know her name
Being sexually uninhibited
Smoking that loud
Smoking high-quality cannabis
I'm breaking it down and rolling it up (cash)
Preparing cannabis while also making money
That money gon' come
Being confident in one's financial success
I'm stacking it up
Saving money for the future
Can't fuck this shit up (cash)
Being cautious with money and success
These niggas is lame
Feeling superior to others
These niggas just talk
Believing others are not genuine
These niggas ain't real (fake)
Others are not true to themselves
My young nigga with it
Having trustworthy and capable associates
And I ain't gonna touch it he gripping it still
Working together with others
She come to the crib
Women are comfortable around me
She have a good time but don't get to stay
Enjoying the company of women but not getting too attached
That pack on the way
Referring to upcoming drug sales
Man that pack on the way, that pack on the way
Repeating the importance of upcoming drug sales
Young rich niggas we don't fuck with you nigga
Believing oneself to be superior to others
I be flexing out in public who the fuck is you nigga
Showing off success to others
Get a mil my nigga split it with the crew nigga
Being loyal to one's associates
Take his main bitch from him show him what to do with it, huh
Feeling confident in one's sexual ability and prowess
Contributed by Josiah L. Suggest a correction in the comments below.
D
This album was so ahead of its time omg
OG Skywalker
Facts
Michael
Future Vandross nah you were behind
PrestigeWorldWide
Extremely ahead of its time
D
Michael Can’t really be behind if I heard it when it dropped, but good one Michael.
Matthew Chavez
They still don't give him his props wother.
Tay YoungDON
2014 vibes all the way
Jake McGee
God forbid someone sees your YouTube history and sees how to be real lol
Brandon Covington
REAL ! HOW TO BE REAL !
Robert Kormos
Forget this beats ,be real allways 😃